Tricia Hatle holds the Outstanding Range Professional Award for 2013 from the Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

"It is truly such an amazing honor to receive this award from the terrific livestock producers that I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with over the years. Thank you!" said Hatle, who has worked at the BLM Cody Field Office for more than 20 years.

The award, presented to Hatle at the WSGA meeting on June 7 in Cheyenne, is "in recognition of the valuable contribution to the livestock industry made by range professionals who exemplify high professional standards coupled with a dedication to building strong working relationships with livestock producers." Hatle was nominated for the award by Stan Flitner of Shell Valley’s Diamond Trail Ranch.

“Tricia has shown great dedication to public land management while working to improve rangelands in coordination with livestock operators, the public and many other key stakeholders in the Cody Field Office area,” said BLM Wyoming State Director Don Simpson. “We are fortunate to have employees like Tricia."

Hatle also recently received the Society for Range Management’s Outstanding Rangeland Management Specialist Recognition Award for 2012, which recognizes a single BLM employee from each of several western states for outstanding service. It was awarded to Hatle for her knowledge of the rangeland ecosystem, livestock operations and wild horses, combined with good negotiating skills and a tenacity to find win/win solutions for all involved.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.